Dr. Joseph was one of the brightest psychiatrists of his time, a man who held a prestigious position earned through two decades of dealing with the most disturbed and complex minds. Hundreds of strange cases had passed through his clinic, until depression and mixed hallucinations—once considered rare conditions—became the most common, and the least surprising to him. In that era, the world complained about only one thing: disorders of the human psyche.
Machines performed most jobs, and humans were no longer required to work in order to survive. Every individual had only two options:
either strive for excellence and obtain a job that grants influence and the power to affect the world,
or settle for a comfortable life in which they receive housing, food, entertainment, and all basic needs, without lifting a finger.
Despite this drastic change in the nature of life, Joseph and his colleagues did not lose the momentum of their work. Psychiatry, in fact, became one of the most demanded professions, even though recovery rates remained low… if recovery existed at all.
On this particular day, Joseph was waiting for a special case. Today, he would meet the son of his late colleague, whose memory still left a deep mark on his heart despite ten years having passed since her death.
The boy, fifteen years old, entered the room and sat on the opposite couch. The moment Joseph's eyes fell on him, he felt a warm tightness in his chest; his mother's features were clearly imprinted on his face: the wide black eyes, the childlike gaze, even the calm way he sat.
The reason for the visit was the father's complaint about his son's weak social communication, and his desire to make sure that he was not suffering from social phobia.
Joseph said gently:
"Hello, how are you? Please… make yourself comfortable. If sitting doesn't suit you, you may lie down."
The boy, known as Black Hole, replied:
"I'm fine… thank you."
Then he lay down without visible interest.
The doctor smiled and asked:
"Could you tell me a little about yourself? About your daily life?"
Indifference appeared on Black's face as he said:
"Nothing interesting… I live like anyone else. I sleep, wake up, go to school. My hobbies are playing games, and I like good stories too… that's about it."
Joseph suddenly asked:
"Are you afraid of the dark, Black?"
The boy thought for a moment, then said:
"Not much… not like those who can't stay in it alone for a long time. But… I think every human fears darkness instinctively, in some way."
Joseph leaned forward and said in a calm voice:
"Do you mind if I turn off the lights and we continue our conversation in the dark?"
This method had a special effect in his therapy; he would turn off the lights to leave the patient alone with himself, believing that a person becomes more honest when all distractions are removed.
Black replied without hesitation:
"I don't mind."
The lights went out, and a heavy darkness filled the room, as if it had swallowed every sound.
Joseph said:
"Alright… let's continue."
Over the course of two full hours, the doctor discovered something he had not expected. The boy's words were greater than his age, deeper than his experiences, and more mature than the minds of many adults. He did not speak like a teenager suffering from social phobia; rather, he seemed like someone who possessed a sharp understanding of the essence of the world—an understanding not even geniuses possess—yet without any trace of the existential fear that accompanies most who think at such depth.
This puzzled Joseph, and even frightened him a little.
Toward the end of their conversation, he finally sighed and said:
"Alright… my next question will be the last and most important in today's session, I believe. I hope you haven't felt bored."
Black replied:
"No, not at all."
Joseph continued:
"The reason you came to me is that your father complained about your lack of interaction with the people around you. Even the teachers at school noticed that you do not have friendships with your classmates. So why don't you try to make some friends?"
Black sighed before saying:
"Well, doctor, I believe you won't be convinced by what I'm about to say, but I'll say it anyway. In the past, people constantly needed to form connections with others because life was harder if they lived alone. But the world has become easier after the massive advancement in technology, so forming friendships is no longer necessary. That's why I'm not very interested in having friends. I think there are other things worthy of my attention, but I don't mind if someone wants to become my friend… I won't stop them."
Joseph replied:
"Well, you are not completely wrong, but I don't think you are entirely right either. Let me tell you something I have heard many times: humans are social beings, and having people around them to share their lives—even in a simple way—is a natural instinct. So in your opinion, what happens if a person neglects their instincts or cannot control them? Wouldn't that cause problems? Isn't that the reason for the large number of my patients in this era? Believe me, you have not seen what I have seen in this clinic… friends are like family, do you understand me?"
Black thought for a moment and said to himself:
"In fact, doctor, I think I have seen more than you… but I don't think I should tell you that. You don't have the answer either."
Then he said aloud:
"Yes, I understand."
Joseph smiled and said:
"Well, Black, I hope this session has benefited you. Believe me, you are a very special person; I have never seen someone with your level of uniqueness. The issue you are dealing with may not seem like a problem for special people like you, but I still believe it is a problem that should be solved. So I hope you try to make some friends, even if it's an online friend, whether they are your age or not. Consider that I have already started, and I hope you speak to me whenever you want. Someone like you can certainly make the world better. I think this is the end of our session. Is there anything you would like to say?"
Black answered:
"No, thank you. I have nothing else."
Joseph said:
"Alright, wait. You will receive the date of the next session in a week."
The lights came back on, and Black left the clinic and returned home. But when he arrived, he found something that had been bothering him all week. This time, he suddenly saw it as an opportunity.
He said to himself:
"Alright… let's do what you want, doctor."